Electromagnetic therapy apparatus

ABSTRACT

An electromagnetic therapy apparatus aimed at heightening the excellent therapeutic effect of an electromagnetic therapy device, making general therapy possible with the conventional electromagnetic therapy device, and being easily used even for patients with reduced physical strength, such as debilitated patients, equipped with frames for the head, upper body and lower body 2, 3, 4 shaped to cover the head, upper body and lower body, respectively, and electromagnetic therapy devices 10 installed in each of the frames 2, 3, 4 to generate an alternating magnetic field towards each part of the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic therapy apparatus,and it relates particularly to an electromagnetic therapy apparatuswhich is suitable for the therapy of the entire human body, particularlythe head, lumbar region, legs, etc.

BACKGROUND ART

There have been many hitherto published reports regarding the influenceof magnetism on the human body, and various magnetic therapy apparatusesfor making use of this magnetism have been proposed.

Of these, the Biobeam (registered trademark), Medical Device ApprovalNo. 59B-1200 available from Nihon Kenko Zoshin Kenkyukai K. K.,disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,340, is in wide use due to itsexcellent therapeutic effects.

This electromagnetic therapy device utilizes an alternating magneticfield obtained by running an alternating current through anelectromagnet. This creates an alternating line of magnetic force ofabout 550 gauss to penetrate deep into the part of the body on which ithas been mounted, providing an excellent therapeutic effect. The warmthand pleasant slight vibrations produced thereby may enhance this effect.

This electromagnetic therapy device is constructed with five connectedfolding magnetic pole surfaces so as to fit onto any part of the body,and when used it is wrapped around the site to be treated, such as theshoulders, arms, thighs, legs, etc.

Thus, the above mentioned electromagnetic therapy device according tothe prior art is used for so-called local therapy, and is not suited forgeneral therapy.

In addition, a single electromagnetic therapy device unit weighs about2,500 g, and, when it is fitted onto a local part of or the entire bodyas described above, it creates pressure pain and discomfort for weakenedpatients suffering from, particularly, rheumatism and cerebrohematogenicdisorders (panplegia or hemiplegia).

Here, the object of the present invention is to raise the effectivenessof the above mentioned electromagnetic therapy device, which has anexcellent therapeutic effect, thus making it possible to treat theentire body with electromagnetic therapy devices according to the priorart, while providing an electromagnetic therapy apparatus which can beused even by patients with reduced physical strength, such asdebilitated patients.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The electromagnetic therapy apparatus according to the present inventionhas achieved the above mentioned object by being equipped with framesfor the head, upper body and lower body shaped to cover the head, upperbody and lower body, respectively, and having electromagnetic therapydevices installed on each frame to generate an alternating magneticfield towards each part of the body.

The electromagnetic therapy apparatus according to the present inventionis constructed so that the head, upper body and lower body are simplyslipped into said pre-shaped frames for the head, upper body and lowerbody, respectively, and are subjected to the action of an alternatingline of magnetic force which has a therapeutic effect on the entirebody, without pressure being applied to the body.

As a result, electromagnetic therapy becomes possible for the entirebody without applying any weight to the body. Also, it is possible toheighten the effect of the electromagnetic therapy since the magnetictherapy becomes possible for the entire body. Furthermore, the patientmay use it while lying down, providing the effect of a relaxing therapy,etc.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an electromagnetictherapy apparatus according to the present invention when in use.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an electromagnetictherapy apparatus according to the present invention when not in use.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electromagnetic therapy apparatusshown in FIG. 1, as seen from the head frame end.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the head frame of the electromagnetictherapy apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this example of the electromagnetic therapyapparatus consists primarily of a base 1, a head frame 2 provided on oneend of the base 1, and an upper body frame 3 and a lower body frame 4placed over the base 1.

The base 1 is substantially flat, and may be placed on tatami or carpet,etc. for use. As shown in FIG. 3, a concave section 1a is provided inthe center so that electromagnetic therapy devices 10 according to theprior art described above can be inserted into said concave section 1a.

The head frame 2, as shown in FIG. 4, is constructed of a base 5 havinga concave section 5a for placing the back of the head, and a head cover6 rotatably connected to the base 5 at the proximal end thereof, theedge of the head cover 6 projecting out over the nose when in use. Inaddition, electromagnetic therapy devices 10 are installed on all of thesurfaces of the concave section 5a of the base 5 and the inside surfaceof the head cover 6.

The upper body frame 3 and lower body frame 4 provided over the base 1have, respectively, a semicylindrical hollow section 3a for insertion ofthe upper body and a semicylindrical hollow section 4a for insertion ofthe legs, as may best be seen in the angular view in FIG. 3. Both frames3, 4 are able to slide over the base 1. In addition, the lower bodyframe 4 may be inserted into the hollow section 3a of the upper bodyframe 3. Furthermore, electromagnetic therapy devices 10 are installedon all of the upper surfaces of the frames 3, 4.

A foot frame 8 is furnished at the end of the lower body frame 4, andelectromagnetic therapy devices 10 are installed therein in alongitudinal direction.

The electromagnetic therapy devices 10 installed in the base 1, headframe 2, upper body frame 3, lower body frame 4 and foot frame 8 areconnected to a controller not shown in the drawings, the controllerbeing connected to a household power source. This controller permitsindependent operation of the electromagnetic therapy devices 10installed in the base 1, head frame 2, upper body frame 3, lower bodyframe 4 and foot frame 8. Naturally, all of the devices may be operatedsimultaneously. In addition, the controller is equipped with a timer,which allows the setting of the desired time of operation of theelectromagnetic therapy devices 10 installed in each frame.

An explanation will now be given regarding a method of using anelectromagnetic therapy apparatus constructed in the manner describedabove, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

First, the head frame 2 is opened as shown in FIG. 2, and the upper bodyframe 3 and lower body frame 4 are slid to the right end as shown in thedrawing.

With the apparatus in this state, the patient lies down on the base 1facing upward. Then, the head frame is put in place as shown in FIG. 1,and, adjusted to the height of the user, the upper body frame 3 and thelower body frame 4 are slid so as to cover the upper body and the lowerbody from the waist down, respectively, and finally the switches (notshown) of each of the electromagnetic therapy devices 10 are turned on.

As a result, alternating lines of magnetic force are generated towardsthe body from the plurality of electromagnetic therapy devices 10, overall the surfaces of the head, upper body and lower body, including thesoles of the feet, and thus the effect of the magnetic therapy isprovided to the entire body. In addition, since the weight of themagnetic generators does not rest on the patient himself, it may beeasily used for patients with reduced physical strength, or those whoare suffering from rheumatism, hemiplegia, and the like.

Furthermore, the rails at both sides may be replaced for raising andlowering the upper body frame 3 and lower body frame 4 in order to matchtheir heights to the physical frame of the patient.

In the above example, while the upper body and lower body frames 3, 4may be slid horizontally, they are by no means limited to such aconstruction, as they may even be double-door hinged-type. Furthermore,the material to be used for their construction may be wood, resin, etc.Also, the upper body and lower body frames 3, 4 may be constructed so asto be slid automatically by electric motor or compressed air.

The electromagnetic therapy apparatus according to the present inventionmay be favorably used for the electromagnetic therapy of patients withreduced physical strength, such as debilitated patients, who cannot besubjected to general therapy using the electromagnetic therapy devicedisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,850,340 or to the pressure of weight on thebody.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for emitting electromagnetic energy to a bodyof a person, comprising:a substantially flat base having a centerconcave section; a head frame provided on one end of the base, said headframe including:a head base having a concave section for receiving aback of a head of the person, a head cover pivotally connected to thehead base at a proximal end thereof so that an edge of the head coverprojects over a nose of the person during use of said apparatus, and anupper body frame positionable over the base, said upper body frameincluding a generally semi-cylindrical hollow section for insertion ofan upper body of the person therein; a lower body frame positionableover the base, said lower body frame including a generallysemi-cylindrical hollow section for insertion of legs of the persontherein; a foot frame provided at an opposite end of the flat base; andelectromagnetic devices for emitting electromagnetic energy, andinstalled on:said center concave section of said substantially flatbase, surfaces of said concave section of said head base, an innersurface of said head cover, surfaces of said upper body frame, surfacesof said lower body frame, and said foot frame in a longitudinaldirection thereof.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each ofsaid upper body frame and said lower body frame are slidable over saidflat base, and said lower body frame is slidable into the hollow sectionof said upper body frame.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 1, whereineach of said upper body frame and said lower body frame are hingedlyconnected to said flat base.